Dispenser



Jan. 22, 1957 w. GRAVES EIAL DISPENSER Filed Dec. 10, 1953 INVENTOR$raves.

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, u rror/vz/ United States Patent H DISPENSER Walter Graves, Manchester,and Willys P. Wagner, Franklin, Mich., assignors to Franklin Foods,Inc., Hazel Park, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December10, 1953, Serial No. 397,346

Claims. (Cl. 222184) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in dispensers for comestibles such as peanuts and the,

like.

In the development of this invention it was necessary first of all toproduce a dispenser capable of handling blanched nuts which are fragileand easily damaged. When nuts are blanched, the skins are readily brokenand easily rubbed off. This adversely affects the appearance of the nutsand is undesirable from a commercial point of view.

Secondly, it was necessary to develop a dispenser that is pleasing inappearance and inexpensive to manufacture. It has become the practicefor persons who prepare and package peanuts and the like to sell theirproduct to customers who in turn sell or apportion the nuts in smallmeasured amounts by a dispenser that may or may not be coin-controlled.Dispensers of this type are commonly found in bars, amusement centers,waiting stations, restaurants and the like. Often the dispensers aresupplied free of charge or for a nominal fee together with packages orcontainers of the nuts. Extruded plastic provides the lease expensiveconstruction but investigation failed to develop any prior-knowndispenser suitable for manufacture in plastic. It became necessary,therefore, to develop a new structure that could be made from thismaterial.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a dispenserthat can be used for a variety of purposes but that is primarily adaptedand pre-eminently suited for use with relatively delicate comestiblessuch as blanched nuts and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser wherein theparts are uniquely arranged and correlated to assure an essentiallygentle dispensing action particularly suited for a delicate or fragileproduct.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that isattractive in appearance and that can be made inexpensively fromplastic.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that isuniquely constructed to concentrate all the dispensing mechanism in abase and wherein the base is uniquely constructed to be detachablyfastened to a container in which the product to be dispensed isconventionally packaged for shipment.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification and wherein likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view through a dispenser embodying theinvention and particularly illustrating a container for the product tobe dispensed mounted on the base which carries the dispensing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. l; and

7, 2,778,536 Patented Jan. 22,- 1957 Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary,vertical sectional supporting wall 12 provided at the top thereof withan annular, upwardly facing groove 14. As suggested, it is contemplatedthat the product to be dispensed be supplied initially in a sealedcontainer such as a can 16 and that the container be dimensioned so thatafter the top has been removed the rim thereof fits into the groove 14.

In practice, the base 10 is applied upside down on the container 16 toprevent the contents of the container from spilling and the assembledcontainer and base are then inverted to the position'shown in Fig. 1. Itis contemplated that the container 16 be formed at diametricallyopposite sides thereof with inturned lugs or buttons 18 which enterbayonet-type slots 20 in the base 10. The lugs 18 enter the slots 20when the container 16 is applied to the base 10, and it is onlynecessary thereafter to rotate either the base or the container relativeto the other to fasten the container detachably to the base- As perhapsbest shown in Fig. 1, the base 10 is formed with a generallyfunnel-shaped bottom 22 which receives the contents of the container 16.The downwardly sloping bottom 22 terminates in a generally horizontallydi-' rected port or opening 24. From the opening 24 the peanuts or otherproduct being dispensed flowinto a dispensing element or cup 26. Thelatter has a generally flat wall 28, opposite side walls 30 and 32, anda curved closure wall 34. Journals 36 and 38 on and extending outwardlyfrom the sides 30 and 32 are pivoted in openings 40 and 42 respectivelyin the base 10. In the normal position of dispensing cup 26, the sides30 and 32 extend forwardly of the opening 24 and in such relation to thesides of the opening that the contents delivered there- .of nutsdelivered to the cup 26 can be readily controlled by varying the size ofthe opening 24. After the nuts have risen in the cup 26 to the heightreferred to specifically above, further outflow through the opening 24stops regardless of the amount of nuts in the base 10 or container 16.

As perhaps best shown in Fig. 1, the wall 28 normally inclines outwardlyand upwardly through an opening 44 in the front of the base 10, and thenuts in the cup 26 are dispensed through this opening by rotating thecup in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Further, as thecup 26 is rotated in the manner described, the closure wall 34 movesprogressively upwardlyacross the opening 24 to close the same and thusprevent outflow of nuts therethrough during the dispensing operation.After the nuts in cup 26 have been dispensed, it is reversely pivoted tothe initial position; and, as it returns, the closure wall 34progressively uncovers the opening 24 to permit another charge of nutsto flow into the cup. Experience shows that the' charge of nuts to thecup 26 is remarkably uniform, and this of course is exceedinglydesirable in a device of this nature.

In order to facilitate pivotal actuation of the dispensing cup 26 in themanner described a manual actuator 46 is provided. The particularactuator 46 here shown by way of illustration comprises a verticallymovable'plunger having lateral lugs or guides 48' at opposite sidesthereof disposed in vertical ways 50 in the base 10. Springs 52 confinedin the ways below the lugs (Fig 3) bear upwardly against the latter tohold the actuator normally raised. Side openings 54' in the actuator 46receive journals 56 on and extending outwardly from opposite sides 30and 32' of the dispensing cup 26 ahead of the pivot journals 36 and 38.Thus, the actuator 46 is pivotally connected to the dispensing cup 26,and springs 52 act through the connecting pivots 56 tohold the cup inits normal or initial position illustrated in Fig. 1. Stop meanspreferably is provided for limiting upward movement of the actuator 46and to position the cup 26'- properly initially with respect to'theopening 24. In the form of the invention shown this stop is in'the formof a lug 58 on a portion 60 ofthe base 10 directly above the dispensingopening 44. As perhaps best shown in Fig. 1 the dispensing cup 26engages upwardly'aga-inst the lug to initially position the same, and itis a featureof' the invention that the actuator 46 also engages the lug58 when the actuator is depressed to discharge the contents of the cup26-so as to limit rotation of the cup in the dumping direction.

Experience has shown that it is important to arrange the dispensing port24 in a plane that is essentially vertical or at most only slightlyinclined from the vertical. In other words, the port 24 should face in agenerally horizontal direction. When the port 24 is disposed in thismanner the closure wall 34 moves vertically or tangentially to cut oil?flow through the port. This action minimizes damage to the nuts and inthat sense greatly improves the dispensing action of the. device. It hasbeen found in this connection that damage to the product being dispensedis reduced to a remarkable extent as compared with prior knowndispensing devices which cut ofi ona substantially horizontal planeagainst the weight of the contents in the device. Apparently the instantarrangement effects a more gentle dispensing action required in dealingwith delicate or fragile produce. of the type here under consideration.

In addition to the above, the instant arrangement and combination ofparts achieves a highly efficient dispensing action. In operation it ismerely necessary for the user to press downwardly on the. actuator 46 inorder to rock the dispensing, cup 26 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 1. As the cup 26 I- tates, the closure wall 34 movesacross, the opening 24 in the manner described and the contents of thecup 26 are simultaneously dumped into the hand or into. a suitablecontainer provided for the purpose. It is significant in this connectionthat the cup 26 is normally positioned with the wall 28 thereof in anupwardly and outwardly inclined direction, for as a result of thisarrangement of the wall the contents of the cup 26 will not spilltherefrom until the cup has been rotated sufliciently to position thewall 28 in an outwardly and downwardly inclined position, and, by thetime the cup has rotated to this extent, the closure wall 34 hasentirely or substantially entirely closed the opening 24. vThus there isno intermediate position in which there is a continuous flow of thecontents from the cup 26.

, Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising abase adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receivethe contents of said container, said base having a downwardly slopingbottom terminating in a generally horizontally directed port throughwhich the contents are discharged from the base, and opposed verticalways at opposite sides and in front of said port, a hollow meteringelement pivoted to the base in front of said port adapted to receive.comestibles discharged therethrough, a manual actuator having guide lugsin and movable along said ways'and pivoted to said metering elementlaterally of the pivot axis of the element and operative to rock thesame in one direction to dump the contents thereof, said element'havinga closure apron movable generally across said port to close the sameprogressively as the metering element is rocked to dump said contents,spring means in the ways acting upwardly across said guide lugs to holdthe actuator normally raised, and stop means engaging said meteringelement to limit upward movement of said actuator and positioning saidelement to open said discharge port and with the port-closing apronimmediately below and in juxtaposition to said port.

2. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising abase adapted to support a container for said comestibles and toy receivethe contents of said container, said base having a downwardly slopingbottom terminating in a generally horizontal directed opening throughwhich the contents are discharged from said base and opposed verticalways at opposite sides and in front of said opening, a hollow meteringelement pivoted to the base in front of said opening adapted to receivecomestibles discharged therethrough, a manual actuator having guide lugsdisposed to travel in said ways pivoted to said metering element andoperative to rock the same in one direction to dump the contentsthereof, said metering element having a bottom wall portion movablegenerally vertically across said opening to close the same progressivelyas the. metering element is rocked to dump said contents, and springs inthe ways bearing upwardly against said guide lugs holding said actuatornormally raised and said metering element normally positioned to receivecomestibles through said opening.

3. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising abase adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receivethe contents of said container, said base having a downwardly slopingbottom terminating in a generally horizontal directed opening throughwhich the contents are discharged from said base, and opposed verticalways at opposite sides and in front of said opening, a hollow meteringelement pivoted to the base in front of said opening adapted to receivecomestibles discharged therethrough, and a manual actuator having guidelugs disposed to travel in said ways pivoted to said metering elementand movable up and down to rock said element back and forth on itspivots, said metering element having a bottom wall portion movable uponrocking movement of said element in one direction generally verticallyupwardly across said opening to close the same progressively and to dumpthe contents thereof, rocking movement of said metering element in theopposite direction causing said bottom Wall portion to move generallyvertically downwardly across said opening to open the same for anothercharge of said cemestibles.

4. A dispenser for comestibles such as peanuts and the like comprising abase adapted to support a container for said comestibles and to receivethe contents of said container, said base having a downwardly slopingbottom terminating in an opening through which the contents aredischarged from said base and opposed parallel ways at opposite sides ofsaid opening, a hollow rockable metering element mounted in front ofsaid opening and adapted to receive comestibles discharged therethrough,a manual actuator having guide lugs in said ways, said actuator beingcoactive with said metering element and movable in said ways to rocksaid metering element back and forth in front of said opening, saidmetering element having a bottom wall portion arranged to moveprogressively across said opening upon rocking movement of saidelementin onedirection to cut oli flow of comestibles through said opening andsimultaneously dump the contents thereof, said bottom wall portion beingmovable to progressively open said opening upon rocking movement of saidmetering element in the opposite direction whereby to charge saidelement again with said comestibles, and springs in said ways bearingupwardly against container, said base having a downwardly sloping bottomterminating in an opening through which the contents are discharged fromsaid base and opposed parallel ways at opposite sides and in front ofsaid opening, a hollow rockable metering element disposed to receivecomestibles discharged through said opening, and a manualactuator havingguide lugs in said ways, said actuator being coactive with said meteringelement and movable in said Ways to rock said metering element back andforth,

said metering element having a'bottom wall portion are ranged to moveprogressively across said opening upon rocking movement of said elementin one direction to cut off flow of comestibles through said opening andsimultaneously dump the contents of said metering element, said bottomwall portion being movable to progressively open said opening uponrocking movement of said metering element in the opposite directionwhereby to charge said element again with said comestibles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS204,323 Harper May 28, 1878 979,682 McLeod Dec. 27, 1910 1,025,723Shafer May 7, 1912 1,405,753 Bush Feb. 7, 1922 1,991,736 Epstein Feb.19, 1935 2,059,704

Miller Nov. 3, 1936

